JP2002063464A - Point managing device, merchandise service providing device, payment mediating device and network point payment system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide technique that realizes a new form of a point service in which a point given as a customer service can also be used at other stores. SOLUTION: A customer terminal 1 requests a dealer server 2 the utilization of the point acquired at an on-line shop opened by the dealer server 2 for payment to a provider server 3. The dealer server 2 that receives the request accesses the Web page of the provider server 3. The provider server 3 accepts the point use request of the customer terminal 1 and charges the dealer server 2 for an amount appropriated with the point.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to points given to a customer who has purchased a product or the like. In particular, the present invention relates to a technology for making points acquired in a virtual store using a computer network available to other stores.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A point service for giving a customer a point in accordance with the purchase price of a product is widely performed in actual stores for the purpose of stimulating the customer's willingness to purchase and enclosing the customer. The points obtained by the customer are assumed to have a monetary value at, for example, a store to which the points have been given. The customer who has earned the points can apply the points to a part of the purchase price when purchasing the product at the store.

[0003] In order to obtain points, a customer is conscious of purchasing at a store that offers point services, and in order to use the obtained points,
There will be a consciousness of purchasing at the same dealer after the next time. For this reason, point services have become one of the most effective sales strategies.

[0004] This point service is increasingly used not only in actual stores, but also in virtual stores, which are one of important sales forms due to the spread of the Internet, so-called online shops.

[0005]

Generally, points given to a customer in an online shop on a certain Web site are valid only within that site. This is because one of the purposes of the points is to induce the customer to make purchases on the site for the next and subsequent purchases, and the points themselves have no monetary value for other stores.

[0006] However, from the viewpoint of service to customers, giving points that can be used at other stores (sites) gives customers great attraction. As a result, the store's liking is improved and the customer's willingness to purchase is raised, so it is considered effective as a new form of point service in sales strategies.

On the other hand, in order to allow the points issued by another store to be used for the purchase price of merchandise and the like of the own store, a mechanism for supplementing the amount of the points, or a system corresponding to that amount Benefits are needed.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to realize a new form of point service that enables points given as customer service to be used in other stores. It is to provide the technology to do.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to a point management device for storing points for providing a customer with economical services corresponding to the number thereof in association with the customer. Connection request receiving means for receiving a connection request to a commodity service providing apparatus to which a customer should pay money as a price for service enjoyment, and a burden transmitting means for transmitting information on the burden based on the points to the commodity service providing apparatus; And a payment request receiving means for receiving a payment request based on the burden amount from the product service providing apparatus.

[0010] The present invention also relates to a goods service providing apparatus for providing goods or services to a customer on condition that payment is made, wherein the burden guarantee apparatus guarantees a part or all of the amount to be paid by the customer. A burden receiving means for receiving information on the burden from the customer, a fee billing means for requesting the customer to pay the amount obtained by subtracting the burden from the consideration for providing the product or service, and a money based on the burden. And a burden requesting means for requesting the burden assurance device to pay for the product.

Further, the present invention provides a burden receiving means for receiving information on a burden from a burden assurance device which guarantees a part or all of a burden to be paid by a customer;
A connection request receiving unit for receiving a connection request to a product service providing apparatus to which a customer should pay money as a price for enjoying the product or service, and a burden transmitting unit for transmitting information on the burden to the product service providing apparatus; A payment request receiving unit for receiving a request for payment of money based on the burden amount from the product service providing device, and a burden requesting unit for requesting the burden guarantee device to pay money based on the burden amount. Is provided.

[0012] The present invention also provides a network point settlement system comprising the above device.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0014] In the present embodiment, a dealer develops an online shop on a computer network. Then, in order to stimulate the purchase incentive of the customer, when an order from the customer is received, a point service for giving points to the customer according to the purchase price is provided. These points are converted to 1 yen per point, for example, on the online shop site and used to receive a discount service according to the number of points used at the next purchase. Can be used to trade with Further, the customer can use the acquired points not only when purchasing goods on the site, etc., but also can be used for payment to a business entity separate from the store.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a network point settlement system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the network point settlement system according to the first embodiment is configured such that a customer terminal 1, a store server 2, and a business server 3 are connected to each other via the Internet 7.

The user of the customer terminal 1 has already registered as a customer of the store server 2, and can use the online shop established by the store server 2. That is, the customer database 21 managed by the store server 2
A customer ID and a password for identifying the user of the customer terminal 1, and an e-mail address, a product delivery destination,
Credit card information, purchase history, etc. necessary for settlement are registered.

The customer terminal 1 is in an environment where the Internet 7 can be used, and can be constituted by a personal computer or the like having a function as a WWW browser.

The store server 2 has established an online shop on the Internet 7. This online shop provides a point service, and gives points corresponding to the purchase amount, for example, to customers who have purchased goods, services, and the like.

The store server 2 records the points given to the customer in the customer database 21 in association with the customer ID. The points accumulated by the customer can be converted to one yen, for example, and can be used as a part of the purchase price when purchasing goods or the like in the online shop.

The store server 2 is in an environment where the Internet 7 can be used, and can be constituted by a server computer or the like having a function as a WWW server.
The server computer or the like can function as the store server 2 by performing processing according to a predetermined computer program. A computer program for causing a server computer or the like to function as the store server 2 can be distributed by recording it on a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM. The same applies to the following servers.

The company that operates the company server 3 is a separate organization from the store that operates the store server 2, and provides customer services on the Internet 7 with payment of compensation. This customer service may be, for example, an online shop different from the shop server 2 or a communication service of an Internet provider or the like.

In order to receive the customer service provided by the company operating the company server 3, it is necessary to register as a customer of the company server 3. The user of the customer terminal 1
Registered as a customer of the business server 3, the customer service provided by the business that operates the business server 3 can be used. That is, a customer ID and a password for specifying the user of the customer terminal 1, an e-mail address, credit card information necessary for settlement, and the like are registered in the customer database 31 managed by the business server 3. The customer I registered in the business server 3
D and the password do not necessarily need to match the customer ID and password registered in the store server 2.

In this embodiment, the user of the customer terminal 1 can use the points given from the store server 2 as compensation for the service received (received) from the business operator that operates the business server 3. .

The processing of the first embodiment will be specifically described below. Here, the company that operates the company server 3 is an Internet provider and the customer terminal 1
Is assumed to use the connection service of the company that operates the company server 3 to connect to the Internet 7.
As a price for this connection service, it is assumed that the user of the customer terminal 1 has paid a fixed monthly connection fee to the company that operates the company server 3.

The company that operates the company server 3 and the store that operates the store server 2 are separate organizations that have established different Web sites on the Internet 7. To the company operating the business server 3 from the customer, and the amount corresponding to the used points from the store operating the store server 2 to the business A contract has been signed with the operator that operates the server 3.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the flow of processing of the network point settlement system performed under such a situation.

First, the user of the customer terminal 1 purchases a desired product in an online shop established by the store server 2 (1).

Specifically, when the user of the customer terminal 1 makes a request to use the online shop to the shop server 2, the shop server 2 displays the online shop authentication screen 500 as shown in FIG. Is displayed on the customer terminal 1. The user of the customer terminal 1 inputs a customer ID and a password registered in advance into the customer ID input field 501 and the password input field 502, respectively, and undergoes authentication processing.

When the user of the customer terminal 1 is specified by the authentication process, the store server 2 displays a product designation screen 520 as shown in FIG. 4 on the customer terminal 1 and accepts the designation of the product.

On the product designation screen 520, the user of the customer terminal 1 selects a purchase button 524 for the product 521 desired to be purchased.
Can be clicked. When the designation of the product is completed, the purchase procedure button 525 can be clicked.

The store server 2 has a purchase procedure button 525
Is received, a purchase procedure screen 530 as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the customer terminal 1. The purchase procedure screen 530 includes the product 5 that has been designated on the product designation screen.
31 and information 532 relating to the selling price are displayed. In addition, a delivery destination 534 registered in advance and information 535 regarding settlement such as a credit card number are also displayed.

Further, the store server 2 presets the point redemption ratio to, for example, 5%, and displays the number of points obtained by multiplying the total amount of the selling price by the point redemption ratio as the number of points 533 to be given. .

On the purchase procedure screen 530, the customer terminal 1
By clicking the purchase decision button 536, the user can confirm the purchase. Store server 2
Receives the click of the purchase decision button 536,
A purchase confirmation screen is presented to the customer 1, and a payment processing request to a payment institution (not shown), a product shipping procedure, management of a purchase history, and the like are performed.

Further, the number of points to be given is added to the number of points already acquired by the user of the customer terminal 1, and
The information is recorded in the customer database 21 in association with the customer ID.

With the above processing, the user of the customer terminal 1 can acquire points (2).

The points acquired by the user of the customer terminal 1 are converted into, for example, 1 yen per point in an online shop established by the store server 2, and are used as part of the purchase price at the time of the next and subsequent product purchases. can do.

Further, in the present embodiment, this point can be applied to the payment amount to the business operator operating the business server 3. Specifically, the user of the customer terminal 1 can use the points to pay a connection fee to be paid to a company that operates the company server 3 as a provider.

The processing at this time will be described again with reference to FIG.

The user of the customer terminal 1 can display a point use screen 540 as shown in FIG. 6 on the online shop established by the store server 2 on the customer terminal 1 as shown. The image 540 includes the number of points 541 that the user of the customer terminal 1 can use.
And information on businesses that can use the points are displayed together with the use button 543.

Here, the number of points that can be used by the user of the customer terminal 1 is determined by the store server 2 in the customer database 2
1 and is displayed with reference to the number of points acquired by the user of the customer terminal 1. In addition, information about the company,
The information about the store that operates the store server 2 and the company that has a contract for the use of points is displayed. If there are a plurality of companies that have made this contract, information about the plurality of companies is displayed.

The user of the customer terminal 1 uses this screen 540 to
The points acquired at the store server 2 are transferred to the business server 3
Can be requested to the operator operating the service for payment of the connection fee (3). Specifically, of the points acquired by the user of the customer terminal 1, the number of points to be used for payment of the connection fee is input to the use point input field 542, and the number of points corresponding to the operator operating the operator server 3 is entered. You can click the button to use.

When the store server 2 receives a click of the use button 543 from the customer terminal 1, the store server 2 stores the number of points used and information for identifying the store that operates the store server 2 that issues the points. To the server 3.

The use button 543 has a link to a Web page opened by the business server 3.
The business server 3 displays an authentication / use approval screen 550 as shown in FIG. 7 on the customer terminal 1 to urge the user of the customer terminal 1 to input (4). As shown in this figure,
The use approval screen 550 includes a use point number field 553 and a field 55 for inputting a customer ID registered in the business server 3.
1, a password input field 552, and an enter button 5
54.

The user of the customer terminal 1 inputs the customer ID and the password registered in the customer database 31 of the business server 3 and clicks the OK button 554 to reduce the displayed points to the business point. Can be used to pay a connection fee to a company that operates the client server 3 (5). It should be noted that the correspondence between the number of used points and the charge is, for example, in a contract signed between the store operating the store server 2 and the company operating the business server 3, for example, for one point. It is negotiated for one yen. Information on the amount of money corresponding to the used point may be displayed on the authentication / use approval screen 550.

Here, the customer database 31 managed by the business server 3 can be configured as shown in FIG. 8, for example. In this figure, the customer database 31
Manages a customer ID 311, a password 312, a connection fee 313, a point allocation fee 314, and a point issuer 315 which is information for specifying a store to which a point has been granted.

Upon receiving the click of the decision button 554, the business server 3 accepts the customer I entered by the customer terminal 1.
Authentication processing is performed using D and the password. As a result, when the user of the customer terminal 1 is specified, the amount corresponding to the used point is recorded in the point allocation fee 314 of the customer database 31 (6). Further, information for specifying the store server 2 is recorded in the point issuer 315 of the customer database 31. Then, a notification of the completion of the point use is transmitted to the store server 2 (7).

The store server 2 that has received the notification of the completion of the point use subtracts the number of used points from the number of points acquired by the user of the customer terminal 1 recorded in the customer database 21 and adds the number of used points to the purchase history. And records that the points have been used for payment to the company that operates the customer database 21 and updates the customer database 21 (8). Then, a point processing completion screen 560 as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the customer terminal 1 (9).

The business operator operating the business server 3 refers to the customer database 31 and bills the user of the customer terminal 1 for the amount obtained by subtracting the point charge from the connection charge, for example, at the time of monthly settlement processing.

Further, the business operator operating the business server 3 charges the point allocation fee to the store operating the store server 2 which is the point issuer (10). If there are a plurality of point issuers, the point appropriation fee is totaled for each point issuer, and the total amount is charged.

At this time, the business operator operating the business server 3 receives a predetermined amount from the point allocation fee as an introduction fee for inducing that the store operating the sales server server 2 pays the point allocation fee and guides the customer. The amount can be subtracted and charged to the company that operates the company server 3. Conversely, a certain amount of money may be added as a fee to make a request. Regarding these payment conditions, the store operating the store server 2 and the business server 3
Can be freely negotiated in contracts with operators that operate Further, payment from the store operating the store server 2 to the company operating the business server 3 may be made directly or may be made through a settlement institution (11).

The first embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the first embodiment, the store operating the store server 2 and the company operating the business server 3 directly make a contract regarding the use of points. However, in the second embodiment, An intermediary agency regarding the use of points intervenes between the store that operates the store server 2 and the company that operates the business server 4.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an outline of a network point settlement system according to a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied. As illustrated, the network point settlement system of the present embodiment includes a customer terminal 1,
The store server 2, the business server 4, and the point gate 5, which is an intermediary, are connected to each other via the Internet 7.

The user of the customer terminal 1 has already registered as a customer of the store server 2, and can use the online shop established by the store server 2. That is, the customer database 21 managed by the store server 2
A customer ID and a password for identifying the user of the customer terminal 1, and an e-mail address, a product delivery destination,
Credit card information, purchase history, etc. necessary for settlement are registered.

The store server 2 has set up an online shop on the Internet 7. This online shop provides a point service, and gives points corresponding to the purchase amount, for example, to customers who have purchased goods, services, and the like.

The shop server 2 records the points given to the customer in the customer database 21 in association with the customer ID. The points accumulated by the customer can be converted to one yen, for example, and can be used as a part of the purchase price when purchasing goods or the like in the online shop.

The company that operates the company server 4 is a separate organization from the store that operates the store server 2, and provides customer services on the Internet 7 with payment of compensation. This customer service may be, for example, an online shop different from the shop server 2 or a communication service of an Internet provider or the like.

In order to receive the customer service provided by the company operating the company server 4, it is necessary to register as a customer of the company server 4. The user of the customer terminal 1
Registered as a customer of the business server 4, the customer service provided by the business that operates the business server 4 can be used. That is, a customer ID and a password for specifying the user of the customer terminal 1, an e-mail address, credit card information necessary for settlement, and the like are registered in the customer database 41 managed by the business server 4. The customer I registered in the business server 4
D and the password do not necessarily need to match the customer ID and password registered in the store server 2.

The point gate 5 is a system operated by a settlement intermediary agency that uses points between the store server 2 and the business server 4 and mediates the payment amount. In addition,
The point gate can mediate between a plurality of dealers and a plurality of businesses, and this mode will be described later.

The point gate 5, like other servers,
It can be configured by a server computer or the like having an environment in which the Internet 7 can be used and having a function as a WWW server.

In this embodiment, the user of the customer terminal 1 can use the points given from the store server 2 as compensation for the service received (received) from the business operator operating the business server 4. .

Hereinafter, the processing of the second embodiment will be specifically described. Here, it is assumed that the company that operates the company server 4 is an online ticket sales service company. It is assumed that the user of the customer terminal 1 uses the ticket sales service of the Web page opened by the business server 4 when purchasing a desired ticket. When the user of the customer terminal 1 makes an application for ticket purchase on this Web page, an obligation to pay a ticket fee to the company that operates the company server 4 arises.

The store operating the store server 2, the company operating the business server 4, and the point gate 5 are different organizations that have established different Web sites on the Internet 7. The store that operates the store server 2 and the point gate 5 are contracts that the points given to the customer in the store server 2 can be used for other businesses with which the point gate 5 has contracted. And a contract to pay the amount corresponding to the used points from the store operating the store server 2 to the point gate 5. The point gate 5 and the company operating the company server 4 use the points given to the customer by another company contracted by the point gate 5 for payment to the company running the company server 4 of the customer. There is a contract with the company that can do so and a contract with the company that operates the business server 4 from the point gate 5 for the amount corresponding to the used points.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the flow of processing of the network point settlement system performed under such a situation.

The process by which the user of the customer terminal 1 obtains points at the store server 2 is the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted (51) (52).

The points obtained by the user of the customer terminal 1 are converted into, for example, 1 yen per point in an online shop established by the store server 2, and are used as a part of the purchase price at the time of the next and subsequent product purchases. can do.

Further, in the present embodiment, the points can be applied to the amount of payment to the company operating the company server 4 through the point gate 5 as an intermediary. Specifically, the user of the customer terminal 1 can pay the ticket price to be paid to the company that operates the company server 4 that is a ticket service company using points.

The processing at this time will be described.

The user of the customer terminal 1 can display a point gate use screen 600 as shown in FIG. 12 on the customer terminal 1 in the online shop established by the store server 2 (53). As described above, on the point gate use screen 600, the number of points 601 available to the user of the customer terminal 1 and the link button 603 to the point gate 5 are displayed.

Here, the number of points that can be used by the user of the customer terminal 1 is determined by the store server 2 in the customer database 2
1 and is displayed with reference to the number of points acquired by the user of the customer terminal 1.

The user of the customer terminal 1 uses this screen 600 to
It is possible to make a request to use the points acquired by the store server 2 to another company through the point gate for payment. Specifically, of the points acquired by the user of the customer terminal 1, the number of points to be used for payment to another business is entered in the use point number entry field 602, and a link to the point gate 5 is entered. A button 603 can be clicked.

When the link button 603 is clicked, the point gate 5 displays a point use site selection screen 610 as shown in FIG.

As shown in the figure, on this screen 610, the number of used points 611 and information 612 on other businesses that can use the points are displayed. here,
As described above, the other businesses that can use the points can use the points given to the customer by the other businesses contracted by the point gate 5 for payment to the customer's business, and use the points. This is a company that has signed a contract to be paid from the point gate 5 to the company for the fee corresponding to the points. When there are a plurality of such businesses, information on the plurality of businesses is displayed.

Note that the correspondence between the number of points used and the charge is determined in a contract between the store operating the store server 2 and the point gate 5 in advance.
For example, one point is set at 1 yen. Information on the amount of money corresponding to the used points may be displayed on the point use site selection screen 610.

The user of the customer terminal 1 can select a desired business operator on the point use site selection screen 610. Here, it is assumed that the operator (operator A) that operates the operator server 4 is selected and the corresponding button is clicked (54).

When the point gate 5 receives the click of the button corresponding to the business operator that operates the business server 4, the point gate 5 transmits the information on the number of used points and the amount of money corresponding to the used points to the business server 4.

Further, the button corresponding to the business operator that operates the business server 4 has a link to the Web page of the business server 4.
The user is prompted to enter a customer ID and password registered in the customer database 41 of the business server 4 (55), and performs an authentication process (56). When the user of the customer terminal 1 is specified as a result of the authentication process, the business server 4 displays a purchase ticket designation screen 620 as shown in FIG. The user of the customer terminal 1 can select a desired ticket on this screen 620.

The business server 4 receiving the selection of the ticket displays a purchase procedure screen 630 as shown in FIG. 15 on the customer terminal 1 (57). As shown in the figure, on this screen 630, information required for the purchase procedure such as the number of used points 633, the amount of money 634 corresponding to the used points, the ticket price 632, the settlement information 636, the ticket delivery destination 635, and the purchase decision Button 637.

The business server 4 has a purchase decision button 637
When the click is accepted, the information is recorded in the purchase history of the customer database 41, and the procedure for sending out the ticket related to the purchase is started. Further, the user of the customer terminal 1 is billed for the amount obtained by subtracting the amount corresponding to the used points from the ticket price. Further, a notification of the completion of the point use is transmitted to the point gate 5 (5.
8).

The point gate 5 which has received the notification of the completion of the use of the point stores, in the mediation history database 51, the store operating the store server 2 which is the point issuer, the company operating the company server 4, And the amount corresponding to the point (point allocation fee) are recorded (59). Then, a point use completion notification is transmitted to the store server 2 (60).

The store server 2 having received the notification of the completion of the point use subtracts the number of points used from the number of points acquired by the user of the customer terminal 1 recorded in the customer database 21 and adds the point gate 5 to the purchase history. The fact that the points have been used for the payment via the customer is recorded, and the customer database 21 is updated (61). In addition, FIG.
A point processing completion screen 560 is displayed as shown in FIG.

The business operator operating the business server 4 charges the point appropriation fee accepted through the point gate 5 to the point gate 5, for example, at the time of monthly settlement processing (63). At this time, the fee for the point gate 5 may be deducted from the fixed amount. On the other hand, the point gate 5 is the business server 4
(64).

The point gate 5 bills the point allocation fee to the store that operates the store server 2 that is the point issuer. In other words, the point allocation fee,
The total is summed up for each point issuer, and the total amount is charged (65). At this time, as a point gate fee,
You may make it charge by adding a certain amount of money. On the other hand, the store operating the store server 2 pays the point gate 5 (66).

These payment conditions can be freely negotiated in a contract between the store operating the store server 2 and the point gate 5 or a contract between the company operating the business server 4 and the point gate 5. These payments may be made directly or may be made through a clearing house.

Note that, as described above, the point gate 5
Can link a plurality of dealers and businesses as shown in FIG. At this time, each dealer and each company can perform settlement using points unique to each dealer without directly making a contract. Also,
The correspondence between points and the amount of money at the store is usually different for each store, such as 1 point for 1 yen for the A store and 10 yen for 1 point for the B store. In this case, the point gate 5 stores a correspondence table between the points of each store and the amount.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

For example, in the second embodiment, after inputting the number of points used on the Web page 600 of the store server 2 shown in FIG. 12, the purchase ticket is input on the Web page 620 of the business server 4 shown in FIG. Had been decided. However, at the stage of determining a purchase ticket on the Web page of the business server 4, the number of points used by the points acquired by the store server 2 may be determined.

In this case, when the store server 2 receives the click of the button 603 from the customer terminal 1 to the point gate 5 on the point gate use screen 600 shown in FIG. Instead of transmitting information to the point gate 5 for identifying the store that operates the store server 2 that is the issuer,
The number of usable points and information for identifying the store operating the store server 2 that is the point issuer are transmitted to the point gate 5.

Then, the point gate 5 transmits the number of available points to the business server 4 and inputs the number of used points within the range of the used points on the Web page 600 of the business server 4 shown in FIG. What should I do? By doing so, the user of the customer terminal 1 can determine the number of points to be used at the stage when the purchase ticket is determined.

Then, the number of used points determined by the user of the customer terminal 1 is notified to the store server 2 together with the point use completion notification (60). The store server 2 receiving this information updates the customer database 21 by subtracting the number of points used from the number of points acquired by the user of the customer terminal 1 recorded in the customer database 21.

[0091]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technology for realizing a new form of point service that enables points given as customer service to be used in other stores. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an outline of a network point settlement system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a processing flow of a network point settlement system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an authentication screen of an online shopping mall.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a product specification screen.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a purchase procedure screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a point use screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an authentication / use approval screen.

FIG. 8 is a customer database 3 managed by a business server 3
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a data structure of No. 1;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a point processing completion screen.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a network point settlement system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow of a network point settlement system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a point gate use screen.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a point use site selection screen.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a purchase ticket designation screen.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a purchase procedure screen.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a network point settlement system in which a point gate links a plurality of dealers and a business.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... customer terminal, 2 ... dealer server, 3 ... business server,
4: Business server, 5: Point gate 7: Internet 21, 31, 41 ... Customer database 51: Intermediation history database

Claims (37)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A point management device for storing a point of providing an economical service to a customer in accordance with the number in association with the customer, wherein the customer should pay money as a price for receiving the product or service. A connection request receiving unit for receiving a connection request to the customer, a burden transmission unit for transmitting information on a burden based on points associated with the customer to the product service providing apparatus when the connection request is received, and the product service. A point management device, comprising: a payment request receiving unit that receives a payment request based on the burden amount from a providing device. 2. A merchandise service providing apparatus for storing points for providing economic services corresponding to the number to a customer in association with the customer, the merchandise service providing apparatus requiring the customer to pay money for receiving the goods or services. A connection request receiving unit for receiving a connection request to the client; a point information transmitting unit for transmitting, to the product service providing apparatus, information on an upper limit of a burden based on points associated with the customer when the connection request is received; A charge receiving unit that receives, from the product service providing device, information on the amount of burden determined by the product service providing device; and a payment request receiving unit that receives a payment request based on the burden from the product service providing device. Characteristic point management device. 3. A point management device for storing points for providing a customer with economical services corresponding to the number in association with the customer, wherein the point management device transmits a connection request to a settlement mediation device that mediates settlement using the points. A connection request receiving unit that receives from the customer; a load transmission unit that, when receiving the connection request, transmits information on a burden amount based on points associated with the customer to the payment mediation device; and A point management device comprising: a payment request receiving unit that receives a payment request based on a burden amount. 4. A point management device for storing points for providing a customer with economic services according to the number in association with the customer, wherein the point management device transmits a request for connection to a payment mediation device that mediates settlement using the points. A connection request receiving means for receiving from the customer, a point information transmitting means for transmitting, when the connection request is received, information on an upper limit of a burden amount based on points associated with the customer to the settlement mediating apparatus; and information on the burden amount. A point management device, comprising: a burden receiving unit that receives from the payment mediation device; and a payment request receiving unit that receives a payment request based on the burden from the payment mediating device. 5. The point management device according to claim 1, wherein the points are given to the customer according to a purchase price of the customer for an online commodity transaction using a computer network. A point management device characterized by performing. 6. The point management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an online shop means for receiving an order related to a commercial transaction via a network, wherein the point is the commodity transaction. A point management device provided to a customer according to the purchase price of the customer according to the above. 7. The point management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for storing a rule that defines a relationship between the number of points and a burden amount. The point management device is characterized in that the burden amount based on the associated points is obtained by receiving information on points to be used from the customer among the points associated with the customer from the customer and referring to the rules. 8. The point management device according to claim 1, wherein a point use permission is received from said merchandise service providing device, the information indicating that acceptance of a burden based on points is permitted. A point management device further comprising information receiving means, wherein upon receiving the point use permission information, outputs information indicating that point use has been completed to the customer. 9. A contribution guarantee device for guaranteeing a part or all of the amount to be paid by a customer to a product service providing device that provides a product or service to the customer on condition that payment is made. A means for storing a point for providing a customer with an economic service according to the number in association with the customer, wherein the guarantee of the burden is based on the number of points associated with the customer. A contribution guarantee device. 10. A merchandise service providing apparatus for providing goods or services to a customer on condition that payment is made, wherein the burden assurance apparatus for guaranteeing a part or all of the amount to be paid by the customer relates to a burden amount. A charge receiving means for receiving information; a charge requesting means for requesting the customer to pay an amount obtained by subtracting the charge from the consideration for providing the product or service; and a payment based on the charge. A goods service providing apparatus, comprising: means for requesting a burden amount from the burden guarantee apparatus. 11. A merchandise service providing apparatus for providing goods or services to a customer on condition that payment is made, wherein a burden guaranteeing apparatus for guaranteeing a part or all of the amount to be paid by the customer is provided by a burden guaranteeing apparatus. A burden upper limit receiving means for receiving information on an upper limit, a burden receiving means for outputting the upper limit of the burden amount to the customer, and receiving information for determining the burden amount from the customer; A charge requesting means for requesting payment of an amount obtained by subtracting the burden amount from a consideration for providing a service, and a burden claim means for requesting the burden guarantee apparatus to pay money based on the burden amount. Product service providing device. 12. The merchandise service providing apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the burden guarantee device is connected to a computer network, and the information on the burden is received via the computer network. A goods service providing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 13. The merchandise service providing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the money based on the burden amount is an amount obtained by adding a fee equivalent to the burden amount. Product service providing device. 14. The goods service providing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the money based on the burden amount is an amount obtained by subtracting an amount equivalent to a referral fee from the burden amount. Product service providing device. 15. A burden receiving means for receiving information relating to a burden from a burden assurance device which guarantees a part or all of the amount to be paid by the customer, and the customer paying money as a consideration for enjoying the goods or services. A connection request receiving unit that receives a connection request to the product service providing apparatus; a burden transmitting unit that transmits information about the burden amount to the product service providing device; and a cash amount based on the burden amount from the product service providing device. A settlement intermediation device comprising: a payment request receiving unit that receives a payment request; and a burden amount claiming unit that requests the burden guarantee device to pay money based on the burden amount. 16. A burden upper limit receiving means for receiving information relating to the upper limit of the burden from a burden guaranteeing device which guarantees a part or the whole of the amount to be paid by the customer; Connection request receiving means for receiving a connection request to the commodity service providing apparatus to be paid, burden amount upper limit transmitting means for transmitting information on the upper limit of the burden amount to the commodity service providing apparatus, and the commodity service providing apparatus. A settlement intermediation device comprising: a payment request receiving unit that receives a payment request based on a burden amount; and a burden amount requesting unit that requests the burden guarantee device to pay money based on the burden amount. 17. The settlement intermediation device according to claim 15, wherein the contribution guarantee device, the customer terminal, and the product service providing device are connected via a computer network. A settlement mediation device characterized by that: 18. The settlement intermediation device according to claim 17, wherein a plurality of contribution guarantee devices and a plurality of commodity service providing devices are connected. 19. A point for providing a customer with economic services corresponding to the number is stored in association with the customer, and a connection request to a product service providing apparatus to which the customer should pay money for the enjoyment of the product or service is provided. And receiving, from the customer, the burden amount information for the consideration based on the points associated with the customer, transmitting the burden amount information to the product service providing device, and the burden amount from the product service providing device. A point settlement method characterized by performing a payment process in response to a payment request based on Yahoo! Japan. 20. A point for providing a customer with an economical service corresponding to the number is stored in association with the customer, and a connection request to a product service providing apparatus to which the customer should pay money for the enjoyment of the product or service is provided. Is received from the customer, the point information associated with the customer is transmitted to the product service providing device, and information on the amount of burden based on the points is received from the product service providing device, and the burden from the product service providing device is received. A point settlement method characterized by performing a payment process for a payment request based on an amount. 21. A point for providing an economic service corresponding to the number to a customer is stored in association with the customer, and a connection request to a settlement mediating apparatus for mediating settlement using the point is provided. Upon receiving from the customer the amount information of the consideration based on the amount of the payment, the information of the amount of the burden is transmitted to the settlement mediating device, and a payment process is performed in response to a payment request based on the amount of the burden from the settlement mediating device. Point settlement method characterized by the following. 22. A point for providing a customer with an economical service corresponding to the number is stored in association with the customer, and when a connection request to a settlement mediation device that mediates settlement using the point is received from the customer. Transmitting point information associated with the customer to the payment mediation device, receiving information on the burden amount based on the points from the payment mediation device, for a payment request based on the burden amount from the payment mediation device, A point settlement method characterized by performing payment processing. 23. A merchandise service providing method for providing goods or services to a customer on condition of payment of a consideration, wherein the method includes a method of providing a part or all of the amount to be paid by the customer from a burden assurance device. When accepting the information, requesting the customer to pay the amount obtained by subtracting the burden amount from the consideration for providing the product or service, and requesting the burden guarantee device to pay money based on the burden amount. Characteristic product service provision method. 24. A goods service providing method for providing goods or services to a customer on condition that payment is made, wherein a burden guarantee device for guaranteeing a part or all of the amount to be paid by the customer is provided. When the information on the upper limit is received, the upper limit of the burden amount is output to the customer, and the customer is prompted to input information for determining the burden amount. A method of providing a goods service, comprising: requesting payment of a reduced amount; and requesting the payment guaranteeing device to pay money based on the burden amount. 25. Information about the amount of payment from a burden guaranteeing device that guarantees a part or all of the amount of money to be paid by the customer, and information about the amount of money to be paid to the merchandise service providing device for which the customer should pay money in order to receive the goods or services. When accepting the connection request, the information about the burden is transmitted to the commodity service providing apparatus, and a payment process is performed for the money payment request based on the burden from the commodity service providing apparatus. Requesting the payment assurance device for payment of money based on the payment. 26. Information on the upper limit of the amount of payment from a burden guaranteeing device that guarantees a part or all of the amount of money to be paid by a customer, and a product service providing device to which the customer should pay money as a consideration for enjoying the product or service. When receiving the connection request to the, the information on the upper limit of the burden amount is transmitted to the commodity service providing apparatus, and for the payment request of money based on the burden amount determined in the commodity service providing apparatus, payment processing is performed, A payment intermediation method comprising: requesting the payment assurance device to pay money based on the burden amount. 27. A means for storing a point for providing a customer with an economical service corresponding to the number in association with the customer, and a request for connection to a goods service providing apparatus to which the customer is to pay money for the goods or services. Connection request receiving means for receiving, a burden transmission means for transmitting information on a burden based on points associated with the customer to the commodity service providing apparatus, and a payment request based on the appropriation amount from the commodity service providing apparatus. A point management device characterized by having a payment request receiving means for receiving, a means for providing a customer with a product or a service on condition that payment is made, and a burden reception for receiving information on a burden from the point management device. Means, for the customer, There is provided a goods service providing apparatus characterized by comprising a charge requesting means for requesting payment of the reduced amount of money, and a burden claiming means for requesting the burden guaranteeing apparatus to pay money based on the burden. Network point payment system. 28. A means for storing, in association with a customer, points for providing economic services according to the number to the customer, and a connection for accepting a connection request from the customer to a settlement mediation device for mediating settlement using the points. Request receiving means, burden transmitting means for transmitting information relating to the amount of burden based on the points associated with the customer to the settlement mediating device, and payment request accepting means for accepting a payment request from the settlement mediating device based on the appropriation amount A point management device, a burden receiving means for receiving information on the burden from the point management device, and a connection to a product service providing device to which the customer should pay money for receiving the goods or services. Connection request receiving means for receiving a request; Load transmission means for transmitting to the point providing apparatus, a payment request receiving means for receiving a payment request based on the burden from the product service providing apparatus, and a payment of money based on the burden to the point management apparatus. A settlement mediating device having requesting means for requesting a burden, a means for providing a customer with a product or service on condition that payment is made, and accepting a burden for receiving information on the burden from the settlement mediating device. Means, a requesting means for requesting the customer to pay an amount obtained by subtracting the burden amount from consideration for providing the product or service, and requesting the settlement mediation apparatus to pay money based on the burden amount. A network point settlement system comprising: a commodity service providing device comprising: a charge amount claiming unit. 29. A program for causing a computer to function as a point management device that stores points for providing a customer with economical services in accordance with the number thereof in association with the customer, wherein the following means are built in the computer: Or a connection request receiving means for receiving a connection request to a product service providing apparatus to which a customer should pay money as a price for enjoying the service; upon receiving the connection request, information relating to a burden amount based on points associated with the customer; A burden transmission unit for transmitting to the service providing device; a payment request receiving unit for receiving a payment request based on the burden from the product service providing device. 30. A program for causing a computer to function as a point management device for storing points for providing a customer with economical services corresponding to the number thereof, in association with the customer, wherein the following means are built in the computer: Or connection request receiving means for receiving a connection request to a commodity service providing apparatus to which a customer should pay money for the service enjoyment; upon receiving the connection request, information on an upper limit of a burden amount based on points associated with the customer is received. Point information transmitting means for transmitting to the commodity service providing apparatus; burden receiving means for accepting information on the burden determined by the commodity service providing apparatus from the commodity service providing apparatus; based on the burden from the commodity service providing apparatus. Payment request receiving means for receiving payment requests 31. A program for causing a computer to function as a point management device for storing points for providing a customer with economical services corresponding to the number thereof, in association with the customer, wherein the following means are constructed in the computer: Connection request receiving means for receiving from a customer a connection request to a payment mediation device that mediates payment using a client; upon receiving the connection request, information about a burden amount based on points associated with the customer is sent to the payment mediation device. Payment amount transmitting means for transmitting; Payment request receiving means for receiving a payment request based on the burden amount from the settlement mediation device. 32. A program that causes a computer to function as a point management device that stores points for providing a customer with economical services corresponding to the number thereof, in association with the customer, wherein the following means are constructed in the computer: Connection request receiving means for receiving, from a customer, a connection request to a payment mediation device that mediates payment using a client; upon receiving the connection request, information relating to an upper limit of a burden amount based on points associated with the customer is transmitted to the payment mediation. Point information transmitting means for transmitting to the device; burden receiving means for receiving information relating to the burden from the settlement mediation device; payment request receiving means for receiving a payment request based on the burden from the payment mediating device. 33. A program for causing a computer to function as a goods service providing apparatus for providing goods or services to a customer on condition that payment is made, the computer comprising the following means: A burden receiving means for receiving information on the burden from a burden guaranteeing device that guarantees a part or all of the burden; requesting the customer to pay the amount obtained by subtracting the burden from the consideration for providing the goods or services. Expense request means; Expense request means for requesting the expenditure assurance device to pay money based on the expenditure. 34. A program for causing a computer to function as a goods service providing apparatus for providing goods or services to a customer on condition that payment is made, wherein the following means are constructed in the computer: A burden upper limit receiving means for receiving information on the upper limit of the burden amount from a burden assurance device which guarantees a part or all of the burden; outputs the upper limit of the burden amount to the customer, and receives information for determining the burden amount from the customer. Charge receiving means; Requesting means for requesting the customer to pay the amount obtained by subtracting the load from the provision of the goods or services; Requesting the payment assurance device to pay money based on the load; Means to claim the burden to be paid. 35. A program for causing a computer to function as a settlement mediating apparatus, wherein the following means are constructed in the computer: a burden guarantee device that guarantees a part or all of the amount to be paid by a customer; A burden receiving means for receiving information; a connection request receiving means for receiving a connection request to a commodity service providing apparatus to which a customer should pay money for enjoying the goods or services; and transmitting information on the burden to the commodity service providing apparatus. Payment request receiving means for receiving a payment request based on the burden amount from the commodity service providing apparatus; and a burden requesting means for requesting the payment guarantee apparatus to pay money based on the burden amount. 36. A program for causing a computer to function as a settlement mediating device, wherein the following means are constructed in the computer: a burden guarantee device that guarantees a part or all of the amount to be paid by a customer; A charge upper limit receiving means for receiving information on the upper limit; a connection request receiving means for receiving a connection request to a product service providing apparatus to which a customer should pay money for the enjoyment of the product or service; A burden upper limit transmitting means for transmitting to the service providing apparatus; a payment request receiving means for accepting a money payment request based on the burden determined in the product service providing apparatus; and requesting the burden assurance apparatus to pay money based on the burden. Means to claim the burden to be paid. 37. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 29 is recorded.